Former Tottenham Hotspur and
Republic of Ireland striker, Robbie Keane has announced his retirement from
football as a player.
The 38 year old captained his
country for more than 10 years, scoring 325 goals in 737 appearances for 10
different club for a football playing career spanning 23 years.
Keane said in a statement,
“Today, after 23 wonderful years, I am formally announcing my retirement as a
professional footballer. From Crumlin United around the world to the likes of
Milan, London and Los Angeles, I could never have
imagined the path my football life would take. It has exceeded all hopes I had
as a football-mad boy growing in Dublin”.
Robbie Keane played for the
likes of Wolves, Tottenham, Inter Milan, Leeds, Liverpool and LA Galaxy since
arriving England aged just 15.
He also serves as Ireland’s
all-time leading goal scorer with 68 goals in 146 appearances before retiring from
international duty two years ago in 2016.
Ireland’s new head coach
decided to appoint Keane as his assistant last week alongside Terry Connor
following the recent departure of Martin O’Neill.
Keane said, “To all those who
believed in me, supported me and picked me up when I needed a hand, you can
never know how much that has all meant. It was an honour to represent you”.
The all-time Ireland leading goal scorer had been enhancing his footballing education applying for UEFA coaching badges while still in LA, so it doesn’t come as a surprise seeing the former football player prolong his career by teaming up with manager Mick McCarthy, the man who coached Keane when he scored his most famous goal during the 2002 World Cup.
Robbie Keane will now be looking to settle quickly as the new assistant manager of Republic of Ireland and partner with Mick McCarthy to bring glory to the country.